"Japan Defense Minister coordinates visit to Korea next month"... For the first time in 9 years,

Japan's Defense Minister Ken Nakatani is coordinating a plan to visit South Korea as early as late next month to meet with Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Kyodo News reported, citing multiple officials.

If the Japanese defense minister visits Korea, it will be the first time in nine years since 2015.

Kyodo News said that if the defense ministers' talks between the two countries are held, they will confirm the importance of cooperation between Korea and Japan and discuss North Korea's missile and North Korea-Russia military cooperation ahead of Trump's inauguration.

Earlier, Defense Minister Nakatani attended an event hosted by the Korean Embassy in Japan on the 2nd of last month, shortly after taking office, and said he would like to visit Korea as soon as possible.